Danica Patrick has raced in both NASCAR and IndyCar. But if all things were equal about the two series – money, prestige, etc. – which one would she prefer?

That’s what Denny Hamlin wanted to know, so he asked Patrick as part of USA TODAY Sports’ 12 Questions series, a weekly interview with a NASCAR driver.

Patrick had a split answer: She said she preferred IndyCar for the shorter schedule and the cars themselves while she preferred NASCAR for the racing and people.

If only she could combine the best of both worlds, right?

“I think if you reduced the schedule, it would make a big difference,” she said of NASCAR. “We just don’t have any lives. This is it. Which is OK – I mean, it’s only for a certain amount of time. But I’d imagine there are some people where the schedule becomes more exhausting than the effort they’re willing to put in anymore. So instead of retiring at 42, it might be 38 because they’re just like, ‘I’m done.’ You just get tired. I think NASCAR would be more appealing by reducing the schedule.”

On the other hand, she’s found it hard to replicate the “pure, out-of-this-world sensation of speed” that IndyCar offered. The cornering ability of an Indy car is “something a stock car will never have,” she added.

IndyCar drivers used to race wide open around 0.75-mile Richmond International Raceway, where NASCAR raced last weekend.

“I remember I went out to qualify at Richmond, and we had been tight a lot of times in qualifying, so my engineer … put a turn of front wing in,” she said. “So I go out and it turned so much and got so loose that I had complete opposite lock in Turns 1 and 2, and I caught it and kept going.

“I hung that one on the wall of my bus for the rest of the year.”

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck

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Danica Patrick, born March 25, 1982, in Beloit, Wis.,
Danica Patrick climbs out of her burning race car after
Danica Patrick finished 16th at Martinsville Speedway
Danica Patrick pits while qualifying for the Kobalt
Danica Patrick flips the coin at the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl
Danica Patrick finished a Sprint Cup career-best seventh at the 5-Hour Energy 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 10, 2014.
Danica Patrick (10) became the first female driver to lead laps at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron's 499 on May 4, 2014.
Danica Patrick holds Kevin Harvick's son Keelan before the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4, 2014.
Danica Patrick and country singer Trace Adkins hosted the American Country Awards at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 2013.
Danica Patrick (10), the first woman to start from a Cup pole, leads Jeff Gordon (24) to the green flag at the 2013 Daytona 500.
By virtue of winning the pole, Danica Patrick got to pick the first pit stall for the 2013 Daytona 500.
Danica Patrick waves to the crowd as she is introduced before the 2013 Daytona 500.
Danica Patrick waves to her fans after making NASCAR history by becoming the first woman to win a Sprint Cup pole. Patrick qualified first for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.
Danica Patrick poses with the pole winner sign after becoming the first woman to win the Daytona 500 pole position on Feb. 17, 2013.
Danica Patrick is nothing but smiles as she addresses the media after winning the pole position for the 2013 Daytona 500.
Danica Patrick was the eighth driver out on the track during qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500. She posted a speed of 196.434 mph, which held up throughout the day.
Danica Patrick prepares before heading out onto the track during qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500.
Danica Patrick walks from her hauler to her garage during practice for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2013.
Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. went public with their romantic crelationship in early 2013 after rumors swirled about the fellow Sprint Cup rookies.
Danica Patrick applies makeup before a television interview during NASCAR media day at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14, 2013.
Danica Patrick gets a hand from her crew as she prepares to take the track for qualifying practice for the 2013 Daytona 500.
Danica Patrick has formed a tight bond with her team owner and fellow competitor Tony Stewart.
In preparation for her first full season as a Sprint Cup driver, Danica Patrick speaks with the press during the NASCAR Media Tour on Jan. 21, 2013.
Danica Patrick high-fives fans prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.
Danica Patrick (10) lands on top of Paul Menard during a crash on the final lap of the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Danica Patrick behind the wheel during practice for the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Danica Patrick is introduced before the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Patrick would go on to finish a career- and season-best 24th.
Danica Patrick takes on tires and fuel during a pit stop at the Nov. 4 AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race. Patrick was one of 25 drivers to finish on the lead lap.
Danica Patrick finished 24th at the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4.
Danica Patrick waves to the fans during driver introductions at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept 2, 2012 in Hampton, Georgia.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick during qualifying for the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug 31, 2012.
Danica Patrick presents the award for Best Team onstage with NBA player Steve Nash at the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A on July 11, 2012.
Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept 30, 2012.
Pat Summitt, left, head coach emeritus of the Tennessee women's basketball team, greets Danica Patrick before the Food City 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race on Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, in Bristol, Tenn. Summitt was the grand marshal of the race.
Danica Patrick starts her car prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug 24, 2012 in Bristol, Tennessee.
Danica Patrick sits down for an interview with Pardon the Interruption co-hosts Tony Kornheiser, left, and Michael Wilbon on Feb 21, 2012.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick crashes during the IRWIN Tools Night Race a Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug 25, 2012.
Danica Patrick waves to fans during driver introductions prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Danica Patrick waves before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, July 1, 2012.
Danica Patrick greets fans on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct 12, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick (left) leads a pack of cars during the AAA 400 at Dover Speedway on Sept 30, 2012.
NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Danica Patrick (10) talks to the media during practice for the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on May 11, 2012.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick during practice for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2012.
Danica Patrick during practice for the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug. 31, 2012.